Aiming at a BreakthroughPresent Views and Future Prospects ofSuperconductivity Science and Technology
Akira Fujimaki
Chief, Superconductivity DivisionThis year represents a turning point for
research in superconductivity. The year 2011, justfour years away, will mark the 100th Anniversaryof the discovery of superconductive phenomena,and this year is the 20th year since the discovery ofoxide high-temperature superconductors with critical temperatures thatexceed the temperature of liquid nitrogen. The Superconductor Division was established following the discovery of these high-temperature
superconductors. In the midst of a “superconductor boom,” a great dealof information was coming out in the media, and at times it was difficult
to determine which information was true and which was not. In thatbackdrop, the mission of the Superconductor Division was to carefully
select correct and meaningful information and provide valuable services
to members, thereby supporting the effective undertaking of individual
research activities. Even now that the Superconductor boom is over, thatoriginal intent has not changed. With the passage of time, however, thedirections in research have expanded to include technologies in this fascinating area of science that will be of use in people’s daily lives. Becauseof the presence of limiting conditions that differ from “pure sciences,”such as the economy and the environment, the proliferation of superconductor technologies requires discussions from a broader perspective.
The Superconductor Division is currently planning research meetings thatwill provide cutting-edge themes, including competitive technologies
and peripheral technologies, so that members can examine a broader
scope of application fields, and conduct discussions from a variety ofperspectives. At the same time, with an awareness that developing
new manpower is also part of its mission, it actively provides support
to young researchers, for example by publishing texts loaded with new
information, and holding schools that offer detailed, easy-to-understandexplanations of superconductivity from the fundamentals to practicalapplications.
Superconductor applications are divided into four main categories: Energy and the Environment, including power storage; Industry
and Transportation, including magnetic levitated trains; Diagnostics andMedicine, including neuro-magnetic measurements; and Information
and Communications, including super-high-speed computers. At theregular lectures in the Spring and Fall JSAP Meetings, there are a total of
about 200 lectures focusing on not only fundamental characteristics, butalso crystal growth technologies, process technologies, elemental circuittechnologies, system element technologies, and material technologies
that support superconductor applications. Superconductive phenomena
still maintain a degree of mystery in some respects, as demonstratedby Prof. Akimitsu’s discovery of MgB2 superconductors in 2001, anddramatic developments in superconductive quantum bits. The “NewMaterials / New Devices” category was created in the Superconductivity
Section as a venue for presenting this kind of new information as quickly
as possible. The core of the Superconductor Division’s activities is thesymposiums and internal lecture meetings held during the semi-annual
research meetings and JSAP meetings. At these events, members expand
the framework of presentations made at the regular lectures based on

the intent of the Superconductor Division, and provide support for thefurther development of members’ research by creating plans that cover
all aspects of superconductors, from fundamental characteristics to theapplications noted above.
Research in superconductivity differs from other research in thatcooling is required. I think that researchers and managers have more ofa resistance to cooling than regular individuals. They have a vague imageof cooling as being expensive and unreliable, but this image acts as animpediment to research in superconductivity, and makes people reluctant
to introduce superconductive technologies. It goes without saying thatfreezing technologies are highly reliable – this has been demonstrated ina variety of applications; for example, in the case of cryopumps. Furthermore, as long as heat inflow is minimized, almost no cost is required
to maintain low temperatures. In fact, a number of superconductive technologies have already been implemented in practical applications. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), for example, which has been
adopted in many hospitals recently, uses superconductive electromagnets. Superconductive tunnel junctions have been used for some timein the sensors that play an important role in radio astronomy. Recently,Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage, (SMES) and superconductive
band-pass filters have virtually entered the practical application stage.
If we can help the general public to understand the current situation,then it will be possible to eliminate the negative image of superconductive technologies. As superconductive technologies and other related
technologies are incorporated into more and more practical applications, we believe that the Superconductor Division will be required toplay an increasing role in accurately communicating the current andfuture potential of these technologies. This goal was already achieved
at a Lecture Meeting held in conjunction with the 54th JSAP Meetingin the Spring of 2007, at a special exhibit focusing on the theme of“The Cutting Edge of Research and Development in High-temperature
Conductors.” This exhibit included actual displays of next-generation
wire coils using YBa2Cu3O; high-frequency waveform measurement
systems using high-temperature superconductive single flux quantum
circuit technologies; high-temperature superconductive band-pass filters;
and high-temperature superconductive high-sensitivity magnetometers.
Video presentations offered an introduction to high-temperature superconductive motors and large-scale bulk targeting outer space applications, as well as ultra high-speed routers that use Nb integrated circuits –one example of low-temperature superconductors currently approaching
the practical application phase.
As outlined above, we will meet expectations by expanding theSuperconductor Division to cover an even broader range of application fields, and bringing together researchers who tend to be confinedto specialized application fields by establishing themes that provide an
opportunity for new interactions, both vertical and horizontal. We will
provide a venue for exchanges of information among superconductivity
researchers, and with researchers in related technology fields. We arealso aware of the importance of manpower training and education as acore aspect of the Division’s activities in the future.

JSAP International No.16 (July 2007)3